Suzanne Laird to STRS board: My dear democratically-elected Board members: I urge you to fight as never before. This is no time to be timid — 500,000 teachers are counting on you. Go down fighting.

Suzanne Laird's speech to STRS board

August 21, 2025

My name is Suzanne Laird.

I taught for over 30 years in Ohio’s public schools, and retired with a “guaranteed” 3 percent COLA.

Thus far, after 12 years, I have been denied more than one hundred thousand dollars.

 I represent myself and thousands of others like me……

Good Morning, Members of MY Board, and welcome, Mr. Toole:

You may start your timer now.

A very curious video appeared in my inbox this week — a man in a suit said, “Your pension is safe and secure,” and “Your money will be there when you retire.”  Where is my one hundred thousand dollars? Where is my guaranteed 3% COLA?

Is it in the pockets of the partisan political appointees who will be incurring MORE costs every month? (Yes, I said political: don’t tell me you’re not; in this gerrymandered state, under the thumb of a DIShonorable governor, under the eye of the subservient AG reps.)

Is my money being squandered on MORE town halls, similar to the vanity project the last guy wasted all that money on? Or the losing cafeteria venture, in an era of Door Dash? Eight vehicles no one can account for; the optics of removing a glass wall, while never mentioning the associated cost? And last, but certainly not least, the bonuses?

This curious video ended with a thank you, not to the current and retired teachers who are paying for all this largesse, but to the employees of STRS! If we are thought of at all, we are an afterthought.

Later today, we will see a graphic in the Executive Director’s report bemoaning the fact that 57% of these employees can retire soon. With a COLA. The word of the day, kids, is “attrition.” Say it with me now, “attrition.” We do not need 500 employees anymore.

I notice the last two items on the agenda today — a “discussion” of the chair and vice-chair, and the “composition” of the disability review panel. Do they intend to stifle the voices of teachers completely, the only ones who really comprehend this profession and the toll it takes?

My dear democratically-elected Board members: I urge you to fight as never before. This is no time to be timid — 500,000 teachers are counting on you. Go down fighting. 

Whaddya got to lose?